Post-Standard basketball writer Mike Waters answers readers' questions about the Orange, the ACC, all of college basketball and just about anything else. To submit a question, email Mike at mwaters@syracuse.com and follow him on Twitter @MikeWatersSYR

I love getting questions from readers because they are usually so incredibly on point.

That's the case with today's Mailbox. All three questions are relevant to what's going on in college basketball, particularly within the past week.

The play of Syracuse freshman Tyler Ennis had one reader wondering how in the world he could have been left off the roster for last year's McDonald's All-American game.

Answer: I still have no idea except to say that the whole process has become too politicized. I've heard that some voters who run recruiting websites will vote for a player in exchange for a scoop on the player's college decision. Other voters simply don't do their due diligence and see all the players in action.

Other questions center on a referee who worked two major college games on Saturday and coaches who spend more time on the court than some of their players.

So let's get to those questions.

Can you compare Tyler Ennis' college statistics to the guards who were chosen for the McDonald's High School All-American game last year?

-- John

Mike: It created quite a stir when Ennis was left off the roster for the 2013 McDonald's All-American game.

Ennis was a standout performer for a St. Benedict's Prep team that would finish the season ranked No. 2 in the country, according to USA Today. Ennis' high school and AAU coaches were both furious at his exclusion from the prestigious all-star game.

A look at the five point guards who did make the McDonald's game last year shows that Ennis' coaches had a point and that maybe the McDonald's committee needs to rethink its voting process.

Last year, the East team had three point guards -- Anthony Barber (North Carolina State), Kasey Hill (Florida) and Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame). The West team had two point guards -- Andrew Harrison (Kentucky) and Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington).

Ennis' statistics this season are better across the board than any of the five point guards who played in last year's McDonald's game.

Freshman point guard comparison

Name (school)

ppg

apg

to

fg%

3pt%

Tyler Ennis (Syracuse)

11.9

5.5

1.3

43%

40%

Anthony Barber (North Carolina State)

11.3

4.2

2.2

39%

26%

Kasey Hill (Florida)

6.8

3.5

1.7

38%

16%

Demetrius Jackson (Notre Dame)

7.1

1.9

1.1

42%

40%

Andrew Harrison (Kentucky)

11.5

3.5

2.4

39%

38%

Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington)

12.3

4.2

2.5

45%

29%

Williams-Goss is the only one of the five Mickey D's players scoring more than Ennis, but he commits 2.5 turnovers on average. He's a 45 percent shooter from the floor, but just 29 percent from outside the arc.

Jackson's shooting numbers are similar to Ennis, but he has just 1.9 assists per game against 1.1 turnovers.

Why did (Brian) O'Connell referee two games on Saturday? He was at Georgetown-Seton Hall at noon in Washington and Louisville-UConn at 9:00 in Storrs. Shortage of referees? Just curious.

-- Steve N.

Mike: O'Connell is a veteran referee who works in several of the major conferences. On Saturday, O'Connell worked for both the Big East and the American Athletic Conference.

Brian O'Connell, shown here with Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, worked two different games last Saturday.Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

O'Connell was originally slated to work the Georgetown-Seton Hall game at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. That game started at noon and ended around 2 p.m.

The Louisville-Connecticut game was scheduled to start at 9 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn.

Tom O'Neill was one of the three referees assigned to the game. However, O'Neill, who lives in the Chicago area, had travel problems and couldn't get to the game. O'Connell, who lives in Middletown, N.J., was able to get to Storrs in time for the game.

This happens occasionally and usually goes unnoticed. Three years ago, an entire officiating crew couldn't get to a Richmond-Seton Hall game due to a snowstorm and three different refs had to fill in.

It got noticed on Saturday in Storrs because of UConn coach Kevin Ollie's ejection. However, another official, and not O'Connell, gave the two technical to Ollie.

Why is it OK for Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon to be out on the playing area of the basketball floor while the ball is in play, especially when his opponent is on offense in front of his bench?

-- Dick W.

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon is not on the court in this picture. Dick Blume | dblume@syracuse.com

Mike: Coaches do inch out onto the court during a game and referees will usually look the other way as long as the coach is coaching his team and not yelling at one of the officials.

I don't know why some coaches are able to do their job without being on the court and others can't seem to stay out of the field of play. Dixon has certainly taken the on-court honors from retired Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun.

I believe the coaches should be warned to stay off the court. It's obviously a problem when the action is right in front of their bench, but I've seen it become an issue even with the game is at the other end of the floor.

In a game at West Virginia a few years back, there was a quick change in possession and a fastbreak. The official on the sideline started back-pedaling downcourt and tripped over the coach, who was standing in front of his bench.

It's a safety issue for both players and officials. But I doubt that anything happens until a game is negatively impacted or someone gets hurt.